Property in hill stations on a uphill (2024)

At a time when sales in most real estate markets are seeing a downward trend, there is one segment that could start moving uphill, literally.

In a bid to escape the stress and hectic schedules, many feel that homes in hill stations and foothills such as Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Almora, Shimla, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Haridwar and Dehradun will be an ideal buy in the present scenario. Desiring a break from slowdown blues is, in fact, making many of these locations a better proposition.

The only thing, however, that a buyer needs to keep in mind is to check if buying property is legal in these locations or not. In some Indian states, non-locals are not permitted to buy land.

In Jammu & Kashmir, for instance, there are laws prohibiting affluent outsiders from buying land so that the interests of local farmers are protected.

This law is applicable to all those who have not been residing in the state for at least 10 years before May 14, 1954. In Sikkim, non-locals cannot purchase land except to establish industrial units.

In Arunachal Pradesh, sale of land or property to non-locals, more specifically non-tribals, is not allowed. There were also restrictions on purchase by outsiders in Himachal Pradesh under the Himachal Tenancy Land Reform Act (1972).

Many of these laws, however, are being bypassed by outside investors entering into partnership deals with locals. Today, Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) has granted permission to builders to develop land and licenses are now being issued.

There are a lot of reasons why buying in hill stations is gaining momentum these days. Modern day stress, hectic schedules and a desire to lead a peaceful life makes these hill locations a preferred choice for many.

Buyers also love the spaciousness, greenery and natural beauty which homes in these locations offer.

Says Raminder Grover, CEO of Homebay Residential, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), "Despite the negative economic dynamics prevalent today, the market for residences in hill towns is still emerging in India. This buyer segment is usually in the age bracket of 35-45 years. These buyers purchase such homes either for investment purposes or as weekend getaways."

However, as compared to the West, the trend of buying in hill towns is yet to catch on in India.

"Buyers of holiday homes at locations in the West tend to spend their entire summers at their vacation homes and buy them accordingly in terms of scale and numbers. The concept is an emerging one this side of the globe, but the driving motives and scale are very different," adds Grover.

Many feel the trend of buying a home away from the city or a weekend home is increasingly becoming predominant in the country, much on the lines of the West.

Says Shravan Gupta, vice-chairman of Emaar MGF, "Having widespread appeal in the West, the idea is quickly catching on here, with various individuals opting for the alternate house on the outskirts of their cities, in order to get away from the hustle and bustle as often as possible, in the relaxed atmosphere of one���s own home in these areas. These homes are created either in the form of cottages or built-up apartments, with the view being an important criterion."

Experts say those who buy homes in hill stations do so in locations close to accessible areas with convivial surroundings.

For instance, in the case of Mumbai and Pune, the locations of choice are Lonavala, Khandala, Baneshwar and Alibagh. Towards the north, it is mainly non-restricted areas around Dehradun, Mussoorie and Nainital which are popular.

In the east, areas around Darjeeling are popular while in the south, destinations such as Ooty and Kodaikanal are quite a hit with buyers.

Developers are very positive about the opportunities in these markets and agree that properties here could become attractive. Omaxe, for instance, is constructing Park Wood township which will have more than 2,000 flats in Baddi.

Says Rohtas Goel, CMD, Omaxe Group, "The real estate sector in Punjab and Himachal has great demand and Shimla���s industrial areas such as Baddi are close to Chandigarh and that is the reason for the growth in Himachal Pradesh. We are making one of the biggest townships in the state and are confident of its success.���

Needless to say these hill stations are more popular as vacation homes. And in that sense they are still seeing a steady clientele.

Says Rajeev Rai, vice-president (corporate) of Assotech, "Homes perched atop a hill always buck the slowdown trend as they offer luxury of a different kind. Single family homes are preferred where the developer enters into an agreement with the buyer to maintain his property throughout the year. Some of the developers are also offering a model in which the buyer can use his property for a part of the year and during rest of the year, his property will be rented out to users thereby guaranteeing a return on buyer���s investment."

This developer has a project located in the industrial hub of Rudrapur amidst natural beauty, which is witnessing a good response from buyers.

What also acts as an incentive is the prices in these locations which are more lucrative than that in new residential property. "The added attraction is the pricing of such new built residential property, which is being offered at quite attractive prices compared to new residential property available in suburbs in the bigger cities. Such developments are conspicuous in towns which have witnessed a fair amount of interest from buyers in bigger cities, looking at a holiday home for religious or weekend getaways," says Kamal Taneja, MD of TDI Developers.

Well, here then is an opportunity to buy your own home in the hills. You could feel the serenity of nature all around you ��� and beat the slowdown blues.

Property in hill stations on a uphill (2024)

FAQs

What to look for when buying a house on a hill? ›

The biggest problem with hillside homes tends to be drainage. A basem*nt and lawn can flood if a house isn't equipped with a sump basin and pump. If the hill has lots of vegetation, good drainage is essential to prevent erosion and landslides.

How do I write a hill station paragraph? ›

A Visit to a Hill Station Paragraph in 100 Words

It was for the first time I had been to a hill station. Since it was during the winter days, we could feel the beauty of snowfall along with hot food like momos, soup, maggie, etc. A visit to the hill station was like visiting some other cold country in the world.

What is a hill in a short paragraph? ›

A hill is a piece of land that rises higher than everything surrounding it. It looks like a little bump in the Earth. Since they are higher than everything around them, hills are good places to get a nice view. Hills are easier to climb than mountains.

How do you spend time in hill station? ›

These include: trekking, rock climbing, hiking, camping, paragliding, river rafting and more, apart from exploring the scenic beauty of the place and spending time to make some memories and clicking pictures. Why is a hills and mountain trip a good idea?

Is it harder to sell a house on a hill? ›

A home on a hillside, then, is a way to get away from the city and enjoy rural life. Another advantage to considering a home on a hill slope is that they are often a bit harder to sell. Savvy buyers may find that the asking price is a bit lower than comparable nearby properties on flatter land.

What is the advantage of a house on the hill? ›

One of the biggest advantages of building on a sloped lot is the ability to incorporate a walk-out basem*nt into your house design. A walk-out basem*nt is one in which part of the basem*nt is underground and part of it (because of the sloping lot) is at ground level.

How do you describe a hill in writing? ›

Related words
  1. alpine. adjective. relating to high mountains, especially the mountains of the European Alps.
  2. craggy. adjective. steep with a lot of rough rocks.
  3. gentle. adjective. a gentle slope or shape is gradual, with no sudden changes.
  4. gently. adverb. ...
  5. graded. adjective. ...
  6. gradual. adjective. ...
  7. highland. adjective. ...
  8. hilly. adjective.

What is a beautiful hill station? ›

These beautiful and serene hill stations in India are bound to take you on a journey that will leave you speechless. Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. Manali, Himachal Pradesh.

What is the description of a place hill station? ›

What is a Hill Station? A small town situated at a higher elevated position than its nearby plains or valleys is referred to as a hill station. The climate is usually cold and a hill station has a low temperature.

What is the slope of a hill called? ›

The grade (also called slope, incline, gradient, mainfall, pitch or rise) of a physical feature, landform or constructed line refers to the tangent of the angle of that surface to the horizontal.

What are some examples of hill? ›

India
  • Aravalli Range.
  • East Rajasthan Uplands.
  • Javadi Hills.
  • Kaimur Hills.
  • Mahadeo Hills.
  • Malabar Hill.
  • Nallamala Range.
  • Pachaimalai Hills.

What is it like to live in a hill station? ›

Frequent natural calamities. Living in the hills is tough because of its rigid terrain and difficult transportation with lack of facilities. Natural calamities are frequent. Most common being landslides.

What type of clothes we should wear in hill station? ›

Hill stations are generally chilly throughout the year, so you definitely need to carry warm clothes whenever you decide to go. You will need a lightweight Husky or Down Jacket and a windcheater or a sweatshirt to wear inside, gloves and mufflers/winter caps, and an extra pair of socks, preferably high ankle.

Which place is best for hill station? ›

  1. Manali. Regarded to be one of the best hill stations in India, Manali is a heaven for all the snow lovers. ...
  2. Gulmarg, One of the popular hill stations in India. ...
  3. Shimla. ...
  4. Nainital. ...
  5. Kasol – One of the most beautiful hill stations in India. ...
  6. Srinagar. ...
  7. Mussoorie, Amongst must visit hill stations in India. ...
  8. Almora.

Are houses on hills safe from floods? ›

Elevation. Another common reason why a house is more likely to flood is a difference in elevation. If your property is located on a flat lot and your neighbor lives on a hill, your house is more susceptible to flooding in the event of heavy rain or when a river swells. Sounds pretty obvious, right?

What makes a house worth less? ›

A home's value is affected by local real estate trends, the housing market, the home's condition, age, location and property size.

What is the hardest part of real estate? ›

Here are some of the toughest struggles that every realtor has to deal with on a daily basis.
  • Uncertainty about real estate market. ...
  • Constantly being on the go. ...
  • Commission is by no means a guarantee. ...
  • Being underpaid for hard work. ...
  • Dealing with difficult clients.

What is the problem with houses built on hills? ›

Homes built on hillsides with little to no vegetation are at greater risk of erosion. However, the biggest factor of homes built into/on hills is nonexistent or poor drainage systems. Fun Facts with Brian – Many geologists consider water to be the strongest element. It can even wear away rock if given enough time.

What are the disadvantages of living in the hills? ›

Possible Disadvantages of Living in the Mountains:

can be isolated. city is further away. can be harder to access telecommunication services. snow can make getting in and out difficult.

Is it more expensive to build a house on a hill? ›

Depending on the grade, soil conditions, and other factors, cutting and filling can make construction multiple times more expensive than that for a home on a flat site. Using stilts is an alternative to cutting into the slope that involves using a crane to lift the home onto supporting wood or steel columns.

How do you describe a steep hill? ›

(stiːp ) adjective. A steep slope rises at a very sharp angle and is difficult to go up.

What are the characteristics of a hill? ›

The fundamental properties of hills are: They protrude from the surrounding land. They have a distinct summit, which is generally more rounded than a mountain's summit. In general, they have an elevation of up to 1,000 feet (though there is no longer an official elevation cutoff value).

What is hill synonym? ›

1 eminence, prominence; mound, knoll, hillock; foothill.

What is the significance of hill stations? ›

The hill stations are high-altitude towns used especially by the British as a place of refuge to escape the blistering summer heat and dust of plains during the British Raj. Hills are lower than mountains. They are prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, particularly in India.

Why are hill stations cool? ›

With increasing altitude or altitude, the temperature decreases. The height of the mountains is much higher than that of the plains, and their temperature is lower than that of the plains.

What is the most famous hill station in USA? ›

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is known as the most famous hill station in the United States. It is surrounded by the most beautiful sceneries in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, which offers many outdoor activities for its visitors both in summer and winter.

What is a town on a hill called? ›

A hill town is any citadel town built upon hills to make invasion difficult. Often protected by defensive walls, steep embankments, or cliffs, such hilltop settlements provided natural defenses for their inhabitants.

What are the words related to hill station? ›

According to the algorithm that drives this word similarity engine, the top 5 related words for "hill stations" are: elevation, colonialism, asia, india, and africa.

What are the descriptions of hills and mountains? ›

Hills are usually formed by either by faulting or erosion hence the altitude and elevation is less. Mountains are a natural mound of earth created by faulting. Hence mountains have high altitude and elevation.

What is a flat land on the slope of a hill called? ›

A plateau is a flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above surrounding area on at least one side.

What are the 4 types of slopes? ›

Slopes come in 4 different types: negative, positive, zero, and undefined. as x increases. The slope of a line can also be interpreted as the “average rate of change”.

What is the top of a hill called? ›

A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous.

What are small hills called? ›

A hillock or knoll is a small hill, usually separated from a larger group of hills such as a range. Hillocks are similar in their distribution and size to small mesas or buttes.

What is a hill with trees called? ›

Answer and Explanation: There are several worlds in the English lexicon that can describe a place with lots of trees. These words include woodland, grove, thicket, and in British English, a spinney.

What are 3 facts about hills? ›

A hill is a landform that is higher than the surrounding terrain and that is smaller than a mountain. Hill is a highland of much lower elevation than a mountain. Normally it is not as steep as a mountain. The surface of a hill is much more stable than that of a dune.

What makes a hill not a mountain? ›

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names once stated that the difference between a hill and a mountain was 1,000 feet of local relief, but this was abandoned in the early 1970s. Broad agreement on such questions is essentially impossible, which is why there are no official feature classification standards.

What is a hill mound? ›

A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically higher elevation on any surface.

What is difference between a hill and a mountain? ›

Hills are lower and less steep compared to mountains.

Where do hill people live? ›

Hill people, also referred to as mountain people, is a general term for people who live in the hills and mountains. This includes all rugged land above 300 metres (980 ft) and all land (including plateaus) above 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) elevation.

Which of the following is a hill station? ›

Hill stations such as Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla, Nanital, Musoorie, Darjeeling, etc. are found in this range.

Which is the highest hill station in the world? ›

You can also visit the world's highest hill station, Doodhpathri from here which is elevated at the height of 2,730 m. Read More : Srinagar Is Much More Than Just Houseboats!

Which type of shoes are best for hill station? ›

The best footwear for hill climbing and snow trekking is a pair of sturdy shoes or boots. Don't bring your stilettos and loafers. Keep an additional pair of slip-resistant slippers in your carry-on luggage so you can wear them both inside and outside your hotel.

What color should I wear in the hill station? ›

In such places, bright colours would do well. Many a times, these places experience low lighting, and the sun's out for a short period only. So yellow t-shirts and jackets would look great on a dress for hill station.

Which shoes are best for hill station? ›

When it comes to footwear, it's best to go for shoes that are comfortable but also provide good support and traction. This means opting for sandals, boots, or sneakers.

Which is the safest hill station? ›

Manali. Manali is indeed among the safest tourist places in India, especially for couples who want to enjoy some quality time in the mountains.

Which is the best month to visit hill station? ›

Summers (March - May)

This is also the time when honeymoon in North India and North East is in demand. Northern plains and South India are hot and humid with temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Hill stations and beach destinations are ideal for this time.

What is best time to visit hill station? ›

Ans: The best time to visit hill stations of North India is from March to June. During the summer season, the hill towns of North India experience pleasant and soothing weather, which makes the vacations comfortable.

Is living on a hill advantages? ›

Access to a Fresh Environment

A clean atmosphere may or may not be a major selling point, but due to the rising levels of pollution in all major cities of the country, fresh air is very hard to come by. The pollution-free, refreshing air you get to breathe on a hillside has thus become an invaluable experience.

How do you know if your house is sliding downhill? ›

Landslide Warning Signs
  1. Cracks or bulges in the ground, pavement or sidewalks near the slope.
  2. Soil migrating away from foundations.
  3. Structures such as decks, stairs and patios tilting or moving relative to the house.
  4. Tilting or cracked floors/foundations.
  5. Broken underground utilities.
  6. Leaning , trees, walls or fences.

What is the feng shui of living on a hill? ›

To create a proper feng shui home on a hill that slopes up, avoid a bare slope that offers little to no protection from the environment and elements. A slope without significant plants and trees will have little nourishing energy to offer.

How hard is it to build a house on the side of a hill? ›

Steep slopes are difficult to access with the heavy equipment needed to build your foundation. The time required to build your foundation is often increased, and it may be necessary to pump concrete to your foundation. This can mean increased costs. Sloped home sites also present drainage challenges.

What do you call a house built into a hill? ›

In-hill. The in-hill (also termed "earth covered", or "elevational") construction is where the earth shelter is set into a slope or hillside, and earth covers the roof in addition to the walls.

What are some benefits and drawbacks to life in the hills? ›

Here are some to consider.
  • Pro: It's a natural paradise. ...
  • Con: It's not easy to build on. ...
  • Pro: Tons of privacy. ...
  • Con: Difficulty with access. ...
  • Pro: Unbeatable views. ...
  • Con: Distance from amenities. ...
  • Pro: Endless outdoor activities. ...
  • Con: Extreme weather.
Sep 28, 2018

What are signs a house is going to collapse? ›

You will notice the floors sloping to one side, or sagging in the center. The floor may feel oddly bouncy or soft, or have high and low places. These are all signs of a deteriorating floor structure. But even if your main beam falls down, it won't immediately take out the entire floor.

Are there signs before a house collapse? ›

Sagging roof, loud creaking or popping noises, and cracks to the exterior wall to the building are all signs of a potential roof collapse. Weather damage can also cause issues so look out for roof leaks after excessive snow or heavy rains.

Where is the wealth position in the house? ›

When you stand at your bedroom door, the far left corner that you can see is the wealth corner. You can activate the wealth corner of your room by placing purple accessories or furniture, a living green houseplant and a small flowing water fountain.

What brings wealth in feng shui? ›

Attracting Money: Lose Clutter, Add Plants and Water

Bring in vibrant life forces such as plants and flowers, and don't forget to have fresh air circulating. Fountains are important wealth adjustments in feng shui because they stimulate prosperity and energy, and symbolize money."

What direction should your house face for good luck? ›

The most auspicious house direction in feng shui is south-facing, which is good for light, chi absorption and family harmony. Select a house with a good view from the front door, and a clear path up to it.

What is the best foundation for a sloped lot? ›

Crawlspace foundations, which account for about 15 percent of new homes, may be the best choice for a sloped lot, since footings can be used to level the home's flooring.

How steep is too steep for a house? ›

Less than 10% incline is considered slight and is the easiest to build on, while 11-20% is considered moderate. Anything above 20% is deemed steep. Beyond about 15%, costs begin to increase significantly as the risks become greater and the work becomes more difficult.

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